SSE Telecoms to use unbundled BT Exchanges and Dark Fibre Access for expansion

Posted by admin on May 17, 2017

‘Project Edge’ is an ongoing project of of SSE Telecoms, under their enterprise division, for their fibre-optic network expansion work. The project will be unbundling a further 40 exchanges of BT, covering ‘prime business areas’ and also be using the Dark Fibre Access service of Openreach.

Presently, the operator has 13,700km of fibre-optic and Ethernet network, that links over 75 commercial data centres. The operator’s more than 265 Point-of-Presence (PoPs), spread over UK, already offers connectivity capable of 10Mbps on its “enterprise class” service. The operator is now even more capable technically, following an important network sharing deal made with Updata and Percapita plc, hit upon last year.

Openreach’s new DFA service will give the telecom operator access to another 40 exchanges in UK, to support their 3rd phase of network expansion and that will bring the total of exchanges on its national network to 140. Another telecom major TallTalk is also considering the DFA service and its first trials are expected to start in this coming August.

MD of SSE Enterprise Telecoms, Colin Sempill, said they are committed to support UK’s connectivity ambitions, adding that businesses need reliable, high-capacity connectivity to function in today’s economy. Their decision to select these additional exchanges is by thorough analysis of LIVEQUOTE data and an ongoing dialogue with service providers and direct customers, the MD pointed out. They are excited to be part of the DFA trial and believe it marks a turning point for the digital economy, as DFA will lead to more competitive services in a competitive market, he remarked.